This article provides an extended English summary of a long interview with Manuel Dupuis, sports psychologist at Psychosport. Originally published in French, the interview explores the profession of sports psychology, the challenges athletes face, and the growing importance of psychological support in modern sport. Readers wishing to consult the complete interview can find the original French version here

Sports psychology has become an increasingly important part of modern sport. While physical, technical and tactical preparation remain essential, psychological factors play a fundamental role in both athletic performance and overall well-being.

Through the professional experience of Manuel Dupuis, sports psychologist at Psychosport, the interview offers an in-depth look at the profession of sports psychology. It explores the psychological challenges athletes commonly encounter, the evidence-based methods used in practice and the growing recognition of psychological support within the sporting world.

From Athlete to Sports Psychologist

According to the interview, Manuel Dupuis’ interest in sports psychology originated from his own experience as a high-level table tennis player. From the age of eight, he trained and competed in an international environment where performance, competition and pressure were part of everyday life.

A serious injury eventually prevented him from pursuing the sporting career he had envisioned. Rather than leaving the sporting world behind, this experience led him to study psychology at the Université libre de Bruxelles before specialising in sports psychology at Université Clermont Auvergne in France.

Since beginning his professional career in 2003, Manuel Dupuis has worked with athletes from a wide range of sports, including football, hockey and table tennis. His experience includes collaborations with professional clubs, elite academies, national sports federations and high-performance athlete support programmes.

Alongside his clinical work, he has remained active in university teaching, postgraduate education and professional training for psychologists, coaches and mental performance practitioners.

The interview highlights how this combination of academic expertise and extensive field experience allows him to integrate scientific knowledge with the practical realities of competitive sport.

What Does a Sports Psychologist Do?

One of the key messages of the interview is that sports psychology is often misunderstood.

Many people associate sports psychologists exclusively with mental preparation before competitions. While mental preparation is certainly an important aspect of the profession, Manuel Dupuis explains that sports psychology covers a much broader field.

The primary objective is to accompany athletes throughout their sporting careers while promoting both performance and psychological well-being.

Sports psychologists work with athletes of different ages and competitive levels, from promising young athletes to elite performers and professionals. Depending on the situation, they may also collaborate with coaches, teams, support staff and parents.

The interview distinguishes two complementary dimensions of sports psychology.

The first is mental preparation, which aims to develop the psychological skills necessary for optimal performance. These include concentration, emotional regulation, self-confidence, motivation, resilience, attention control and the ability to perform consistently under pressure.

Mental preparation also helps athletes cope with difficult moments during competition, such as making an important mistake, conceding a goal, losing confidence or experiencing an unexpected setback. Instead of becoming overwhelmed emotionally, athletes learn strategies that enable them to regain control and continue performing effectively.

The second dimension concerns clinical sports psychology.

Athletes may experience depression, burnout, anxiety disorders, emotional exhaustion, eating disorders, addiction, psychological consequences following injury or personal difficulties outside sport. In these situations, psychological support extends beyond performance and focuses on the athlete’s overall mental health and quality of life.

The interview therefore presents sports psychology as a discipline that combines performance enhancement with psychological care.

The Most Common Challenges Athletes Face

According to Manuel Dupuis, one of the most frequent issues encountered in practice is a lack of self-confidence.

Many athletes demonstrate excellent technical abilities during training but struggle to reproduce the same level of performance during competition. The interview explains that the objective is not simply to encourage athletes but to help them genuinely develop confidence in their own abilities through structured psychological work.

Stress management is another major topic.

Competition naturally generates physical and psychological pressure, particularly among young athletes. The interview explains that stress is closely related to confidence and emotional regulation. Rather than attempting to eliminate stress completely, sports psychologists help athletes understand it, regulate it and use it as a source of energy instead of perceiving it as an obstacle.

Managing defeat is equally important.

As athletes progress through increasingly competitive levels, defeats become inevitable. Athletes who have experienced continuous success during their early development sometimes struggle to accept setbacks once the level of competition increases. Learning how to analyse defeats constructively, recover emotionally and maintain motivation becomes an essential psychological skill.

Concentration difficulties are also frequently observed.

During competition, athletes may become distracted by previous mistakes, refereeing decisions, spectators, opponents or thoughts about the final result. The interview explains that psychological preparation teaches athletes how to remain focused on the present moment and on the next action instead of dwelling on past events.

Major competitions such as national championships, European competitions or decisive matches create additional psychological demands. Preparing athletes for these high-pressure situations forms an important part of sports psychology.

Finally, Manuel Dupuis explains that injuries often have consequences extending well beyond physical rehabilitation. Serious injuries may affect confidence, identity, motivation and emotional well-being. Psychological support therefore plays an important role in helping athletes recover mentally while preparing for a successful return to competition.

Working with Coaches, Teams and Families

The interview explains that collaboration with coaches varies depending on the context in which a sports psychologist works.

When working within a sports club or federation, close collaboration with coaches and support staff is often possible and can significantly enhance the psychological support provided to athletes. Coaches contribute valuable observations about training behaviours, competition performances and interpersonal dynamics, helping to create a more comprehensive understanding of each athlete’s needs.

In private practice, however, collaboration is guided by strict professional confidentiality. Information is shared only with the athlete’s explicit consent. For young athletes, parents are also involved in accordance with ethical and legal requirements.

According to Manuel Dupuis, when trust exists between the athlete, the coach and the sports psychologist, this collaborative approach often leads to the best outcomes. Coaches bring their technical expertise, while the sports psychologist contributes psychological insight, allowing everyone to work towards the same objective while respecting each other’s role.

The interview also highlights the psychologist’s role within teams. In addition to individual consultations, sports psychologists may facilitate communication, strengthen team cohesion, develop leadership and help resolve interpersonal conflicts. These interventions contribute not only to performance but also to creating a healthier and more constructive team environment.

For younger athletes, parents also play an important role. The interview emphasises that maintaining healthy communication between athletes, parents and coaches is often essential for long-term development. When misunderstandings or conflicts arise, psychological support can help restore dialogue and clarify everyone’s role.

Psychological Methods and Techniques

The interview presents several evidence-based approaches commonly used in sports psychology.

Among the most important are cognitive and behavioural techniques, which help athletes identify and modify unhelpful thoughts, beliefs and behaviours. These approaches aim to strengthen confidence, improve emotional regulation and develop more effective coping strategies.

Mental imagery is another widely used method. Athletes learn to mentally rehearse technical movements, tactical situations and demanding competitive scenarios before they occur. Visualisation not only improves technical execution but also prepares athletes emotionally for challenging situations, allowing them to respond more effectively during competition.

The interview also highlights the growing use of mindfulness within sport. Mindfulness exercises help athletes maintain their attention on the present moment rather than becoming distracted by previous mistakes or worrying about future outcomes. This ability to remain fully engaged in the current action is particularly valuable in high-pressure situations.

Relaxation techniques, controlled breathing and progressive muscle relaxation are frequently incorporated into psychological preparation. These methods help athletes regulate physiological activation, improve recovery and optimise their level of readiness before competition.

Another interesting approach discussed in the interview involves “switch” techniques. These strategies help athletes move rapidly from a negative emotional state—such as frustration after an error or disappointment following a lost point—back to a neutral or performance-focused state. Learning to “switch” quickly enables athletes to remain fully engaged in the competition instead of dwelling on previous mistakes.

The interview emphasises that no single method works for every athlete. Psychological interventions are always tailored to the individual’s personality, objectives, sport and competitive environment.

Growing Recognition of Sports Psychology

One of the strongest messages emerging from the interview is the evolution of sports psychology over recent decades.

According to Manuel Dupuis, athletes today are generally far more open to psychological support than in the past. Mental preparation has become increasingly accepted within elite sport, and many well-known athletes now speak openly about working with sports psychologists.

Young athletes themselves increasingly seek psychological support rather than attending solely because of requests from parents or coaches. This growing awareness reflects a broader recognition that psychological preparation is an essential component of athletic development.

Although some professional environments remain more cautious—particularly in sports where selection and financial stakes are very high—the stigma surrounding sports psychology continues to decrease. Many clubs, federations and high-performance programmes now recognise that psychological support deserves the same attention as physical, technical and tactical preparation.

Challenges and Rewards of the Profession

The interview also addresses the realities of working as a sports psychologist.

According to Manuel Dupuis, some of the most challenging situations involve conflicts between athletes, coaches and parents. Disagreements regarding selection decisions, coaching methods or expectations may create tensions that affect both performance and well-being.

In these situations, one of the psychologist’s responsibilities is to facilitate communication while helping each person understand and respect their role. Restoring trust and encouraging constructive dialogue often become essential components of the intervention.

Despite these challenges, the interview highlights many rewarding aspects of the profession.

Building strong therapeutic relationships with athletes is one of the greatest sources of professional satisfaction. Witnessing an athlete regain confidence after a difficult period, successfully return from injury, overcome burnout or simply rediscover enjoyment in sport represents meaningful success.

Victories and sporting achievements naturally bring satisfaction, but the interview emphasises that the greatest reward often lies in observing long-term personal growth rather than short-term competitive results.

Advice for Future Sports Psychologists

Towards the end of the interview, Manuel Dupuis offers advice to psychologists interested in specialising in sports psychology.

He emphasises the importance of first obtaining solid training in psychology before pursuing specialised education in sports psychology and mental performance. Developing expertise requires both academic knowledge and practical experience.

The interview also stresses the importance of perseverance. Building a professional network within sport takes time, and opportunities often develop gradually rather than immediately after graduation.

For this reason, Manuel Dupuis generally recommends maintaining another professional activity—ideally within psychology—during the early years of a career in sports psychology. This allows young professionals to gain experience while progressively developing their work within the sporting environment.

Finally, the interview highlights that sports psychology continues to grow as a profession. Increasing recognition within clubs, federations and elite sport creates new opportunities for psychologists who combine scientific knowledge, clinical competence and a genuine understanding of competitive sport.

Conclusion

The interview presents sports psychology as a profession that extends far beyond mental preparation alone. It combines psychological science, clinical expertise and an in-depth understanding of the sporting environment to help athletes perform at their best while maintaining their psychological well-being throughout their careers.

Whether supporting a young athlete developing confidence, helping an elite performer manage pressure or assisting an injured athlete through rehabilitation, sports psychology aims to promote both performance and personal development.